Facility Dog Handler/Clinical Assistant

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is hiring a Clinical Assistant/Facility Dog Handler for Pediatric Behavioral Health at the College Hill Campus in Cincinnati, OH. This full-time role (40 hours/week) involves integrating a professionally trained facility dog into patient care to support therapeutic goals and staff wellbeing.

The position requires trauma-informed practice, collaboration with behavioral health clinicians, and certification maintenance for handler and dog.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Divinity, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.
• Experience in pediatric behavioral health or trauma-informed care.
• Strong interpersonal and de-escalation skills.
• Experience with animal-assisted interventions or facility dog programs.
• Experience supporting staff wellbeing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate goal-directed patient interactions that support emotional regulation, anxiety reduction, engagement in care and therapy.
• Partner with behavioral health clinicians to integrate the dog into care plans where appropriate.
• Apply trauma-informed practices in all patient interactions.
• Conduct structured staff support rounds and provide stress-reduction interventions.
• Collaborate with leadership on staff wellbeing initiatives.
• Manage daily scheduling of visits (patients and staff).
• Track encounters and outcomes per program metrics; maintain documentation.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

De-escalation

Staff wellbeing

Animal-assisted interventions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Divinity, Psychology, Social Work, or related field

Job description

Primary LocationCollege Hill CampusDepartmentChild Life & Integrative CareShiftDay (United States of America)ScheduleFull timeWeekly Hours40FTE1Employee StatusRegular*Expected Starting Pay Range$18.16 - $22.25*Starting pay is based on experience, skills, and equity; exceptions may apply for highly qualified candidates. Additional pay (e.g., shift, on-call, or weekend differentials) and benefits may apply. Annual pay may vary based on FTE status.

Clinical Assistant/Facility Dog Handler for Pediatric Behavioral HealthLocation: College Hill Campus, 5642 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati OH 45224Status: Full-Time, 40 hours/weekPosition SummaryThe Facility Dog Handler is responsible for integrating a professionally trained facility dog into the pediatric behavioral health setting to support patient therapeutic goals and staff wellbeing. This role delivers structured, trauma-informed interventions while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, safety, and clinical alignment. Initially housed within the Child Life Program, the role will transition to Spiritual Care, requiring flexibility in approach while maintaining interdisciplinary collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical & Therapeutic Support

• Facilitate goal-directed patient interactions that support:
• Emotional regulation
• Anxiety reduction
• Engagement in care and therapy
• Partner with behavioral health clinicians to integrate the dog into care plans where appropriate
• Apply trauma-informed practices in all patient interactions

Staff Support & Wellbeing

• Conduct structured staff support rounds
• Provide stress-reduction interventions and brief restorative interactions
• Collaborate with leadership on staff wellbeing initiatives

Program Operations

• Manage daily scheduling of visits (patient and staff)
• Triage and prioritize referrals based on need and appropriateness
• Track encounters and outcomes per program metrics
• Maintain documentation aligned with hospital standards

Animal Welfare & Safety

• Ensure the facility dog's physical and emotional wellbeing
• Adhere to all infection prevention, safety, and risk management policies
• Monitor dog workload (visits/day, rest periods, stress signals)
• Maintain certification and ongoing training for both handler and dog

Education & Program Development

• Educate staff on safe and effective interactions with the facility dog
• Support program growth, evaluation, and reporting
• Participate in interdisciplinary committees as needed

Preferred Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor's degree in Divinity, Psychology, Social Work, or related field
• Experience in pediatric behavioral health or trauma-informed care
• Strong interpersonal and de-escalation skills
• Experience with animal-assisted interventions or facility dog programs
• Experience supporting staff wellbeing initiatives

About Us

At Cincinnati Children's, we come to work with one goal: to make children's health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children's.

Cincinnati Children's is:

Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as atop 10 best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH)Funding Recognized as one of America's Best Large Employers (2025), America's Best Employers for New Grads (2025) One of the nation'sAmerica's Most Innovative Companiesas noted by Fortune Consistently certified as great place to work A Leading Disability Employeras noted by theNational Organization on Disability Magnet designated for the fourth consecutive time by theAmerican Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) We Embrace Innovation-Together. We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That's why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we're creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future-for all of us. Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children's is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability